Seat with articulating camera support

ABSTRACT

A support for a video camera comprising a seat, a vertical support frame on one side of the seat, an arm rest on the vertical camera support frame, and an elongated, adjustable boom extending outward from the vertical camera support. The boom is pivotally attached to the support frame to allow side-to-side movement and includes a centrally positioned elbow joint to allow vertical adjustment of the distal end of the boom. The boom includes a telescoping segment to adjust its length. The boom has a handle at the distal end. The handle includes a camera mount on its upper surface. The handle is attached to the boom by a ball and socket joint that allows full range of movement of the handle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to provisional patent application Ser.No. 60/478,721, filed Jun. 16, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of hand held video recording cameras has increased dramaticallyin recent years. Video recording cameras come in many styles and formatsincluding VHS format video recorder, digital video recorders, andrecently, cameras that record directly to digital videodiscs. Suchcameras, whatever the format, generally are referred to as “camcorders”.

Although the size and weight of camcorders have been reduced in recentyears, it can be inconvenient and tiring for the user to hold the camerawhile recording, particularly if recording a lengthy event, such as awedding, graduation, sporting event or other such event. The user cansuffer from arm fatigue and movement results in an uneven or shakypicture. Generally, for longer events, the user supports the camcorderon a convention camera tripod. However, these devices are not withoutdrawbacks. They can be cumbersome to carry and set up, they don'treadily fit in seating areas, such as bleachers or church pews, and theyusually require the user to stand and bend over the camera, which can betiring and uncomfortable.

It would be beneficial, therefore, to have a video recording camerasupport that allows the user to sit in a comfortable position and recordevents. It also would be beneficial to have such a support device thatcan be placed or positioned in a seating area with limited space, suchas a church pew or bleacher seats. Moreover, it would be beneficial tohave such a support device that allows a full range of movement of thecamera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, a support for a camera is provided that incorporates aseat, a vertical support frame on one side of the seat, an arm rest onthe support for supporting the user's arm, and an adjustable, elongatedboom, having pivotally attached to, and extending outward from thesupport frame. There is a handle at the distal end of the boom. There isa camera mount on the handle. The handle is connected to the boom by aball and socket joint that allows a full range of motion of the camera.The seat can be placed on a support surface, such as a bleacher seat orchurch pew. The user can sit on the seat, place his arm on the armsupport and grasp the handle and move the camera in a full range ofmotion. The user can remain seated with his arm comfortably supportedwhile recording events.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the camcorder support of the presentinvention with the camcorder and user shown in phantom to illustrateenvironment;

FIG. 2. is an exploded view of the camcorder support of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the camcorder support of thepresent invention with one leg of the vertical support removed; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The camcorder support of the present invention is indicated by referencenumeral 10 in the various drawing figures. Although the preferred use ofthe invention is to support a camcorder and the arm of the person usingthe camcorder to prevent movement of the camera and fatigue to the user,it will be appreciated that the present invention can be used to supportany type of camera, including a still photograph camera, eitherconventional film type or digital. As used herein, the term camera isintended to include any moving or still picture-taking device includingcamcorders. Furthermore, the term camcorder is used to describe any typeof camera used to record or film action or events and is intended toencompass digital recorders, VHS format recorders, even conventionalmovie cameras, such as 8 or 16 mm film movie cameras. Hence, when theterm “camera” is used herein, it is intended to encompass a camera inthe broadest sense, including any type of camera, presently known orunknown, for taking still picture or moving pictures although theinvention primarily is used with a video camcorder or the like.

Furthermore, the individual using the invention, i.e. the operator ofthe camera mounted on the invention, may be referred to as the user, thephotographer, the cameraman, the videographer or any similar term thatdenotes one who would use a camera to take movies or still photographs.

In any event, as shown in the drawings, the camcorder support 10 of thepresent invention includes, as major components, as seat 12, a verticalsupport 14 attached to one side of seat 12 with a substantiallyhorizontally extending adjustable elongated arm 16 pivotally connectedto the top of vertical support 14. There is a rotatable handle 17 at thedistal end of elongated arm 16 with a camera mount at the upper surfaceof the handle. The camcorder support 10 also includes an armrest 18attached to vertical camera support. These components and subcomponentswill now be described in greater detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the illustrated embodiment seat 12 is generallyrectangular in shape, having a frame 20 surrounding a padded seatcushion 22, which provides a seating surface 24 for the cameraman M.Seat 12 can be of any useful configuration and size, however, therectangular design measuring approximately 14 inches by 16 inches workswell for its intended purpose. Although not shown, in the illustratedembodiment, seat 12 has a substantially flat bottom surface and isdesigned to rest on a support surface, such as a chair, bleacher seat,church pew or the like. Although not shown, seat 12 can employ legs,preferably removable, extending downward from the bottom surface toelevate the seat above the support surface, if desired, and also canemploy a vertically or upright back, also removable, to provide addedsupport and comfort to cameraman. In any event, seat 12 is designed toprovide comfortable seating for cameraman M.

There is a platform 26 extending out from one side of frame 20. Platform26 can be permanently or removably attached to the frame or can beattached by a hinge to allow it to fold up, if desired. Platform 26 isshown attached to seat 12 for use by a right-handed cameraman M, but canjust as well be attached to the opposite side of the seat to morereadily accommodate a left-handed user. Also, platform 26 can beremovably affixed to frame 20 so as to allow it to be mounted to eitherthe left side or the right side of seat 12 to increase the versatilityof the invention. Platform 26 in the illustrated embodiment has asubstantially triangular configuration, with the base of the triangleadjacent frame 20 and the apex of the triangle extending out from theseat. There can be padding 26A on the bottom surface of the platform.There is a short, inwardly angled leg mounting sleeve 27, having a hole28 therethrough, at the apex.

The vertical support 14 is attached to platform 26 and seat frame 20 asshown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the illustrated embodiment,vertical support 14 includes a tripod frame section 29 that includes afirst, outwardly angled lateral leg 30 and opposed second, outwardlyangled lateral leg 32 in the same vertical plane and a third leg 34positioned in the middle of the two side legs and angled downwardly andoutwardly toward mounting sleeve 27. Third leg 34 is segmented, with anupper segment 34A affixed between the upper ends of the lateral legs anda removable bottom segment 34B. FIG. 3 is a side elevational view inwhich bottom section 34B is removed. The removable bottom segment 34Bcan threadedly engage upper segment 34A by a concentric threadedextension (not seen) that screws into a threaded hole (not seen) the endof the upper segment. The end of bottom segment 34B has a hole 36therethrough. When the end of bottom segment 34B is seated in sleeve 27,a securing pin or screw or other fastener is inserted through holes 28and 36 to hold it in place.

Lateral legs 30 and 32 are attached to frame 20 by U-shaped brackets 38and 40, that include mounting holes 41 and 42, respectively in the upperends. Brackets 38 and 40 are affixed to the seat frame. These bracketsextend above seat 12. Lateral leg 30, with lateral leg 32 being a mirrorimage, has an outwardly angled main section 30A and a verticallydisposed terminal end 30B. Terminal end 30B has a hole 43 formedtherethrough.

The vertically disposed terminal ends of the lateral legs are insertedinto U-brackets 38 and 40. A pivot pin 44 or other fastener is insertedthrough holes 41 and 42 and the respective holes 43 in the terminal endsof the lateral legs to releasably secure the legs in the brackets. Itwill be appreciated that removable segment 34B of leg 34 can be removedand legs 30 and 32 pivoted inwardly in brackets 38 and 40 to allowvertical camera support 14 to fold for transport or storage.

There is a vertically extending pivot post 45 at the top of the verticalcamera mount. The upper ends of the lateral legs and the third leg aregenerally affixed to the lower end of pivot post 45 so that asubstantial portion of the pivot post extends above the legs.

Elongated arm 16 is pivotally attached to pivot post 45 to allow arm 16to rotate about the pivot in a horizontal plane. The arm 16 also can bereferred to as a camera boom. In any event, arm 16 includes a firstsegment 46 generally comprises an L-shaped tube having a verticallyextending sleeve section 46A and a horizontally extending section 46B.Sleeve section 46A has an inner diameter that is slightly oversizedrelative to pivot post 45 so that sleeve section 46A fits over pivotpost 45. It will be appreciated that pivot post 45 and the inside ofsection 46A can be lubricated or can be lined with a reduced frictionmaterial such as Teflon®. In any event sleeve section 46A can freelyrotate around pivot post 45.

Arm 16 also includes a second segment 48 that is connected to the distalend of section 46B by a joint. In the illustrated embodiment, theconnection is made by elbow joint 50. However, the joint can be of anyacceptable design, such as a hinge, ball and socket, or any joint thatallows elevation of segment 48 relative to segment 46. In theillustrated embodiment, elbow joint 50 is comprised of a substantiallycircular extension 50A on the distal end of section 46B and acomplementary extension 50B on the proximal end of segment 48. There aredetents (not seen) on the inner surfaces of the extensions 50A and 50B,which keep the circular extension aligned when segments 46 and 48 are ina desired angular relationship. The circular extensions can include ballbearings or the like to facilitate rotation. The extensions are biasedtogether by a bolt and wing nut assembly 52. In any event, the cameramanM can adjust the angle of segment 48 by bending at the elbow joint.Hence the distal end of segment 48 can be raised or lowered relative tosegment 46 at joint 50.

Segment 48 is telescoping and includes an outer sleeve 54 and an innerrod 56, as best seen in FIG. 2. Sleeve 54 has an elongated horizontalslot 58 with a series of short vertical slots 60 that function as stops.Rod 56 includes a protruding detent 62 that can move back and forth inslot 58 and then engage a selected slot 60 to hold the rod in a desiredposition. Thus the cameraman can adjust length of arm 16 to comfort.

Arm 16 includes a handle 17 at its distal end, movably attached tosegment 48 by a ball and socket joint. In the illustrated embodiment,handle 17 has a comfortable pistol grip configuration. Rod 56 includes around ball 66 at its terminus. Handle 17 includes a spherical socket 68to seat ball 66 and allow a full range of motion, or articulation, ofhandle 17 about the ball. In the illustrated embodiment, socket 68 isformed in handle 17 with a removable section 70 that permits placementof ball 66 in socket 68. In one embodiment of the invention, both theball and socket can be lubricated or constructed from a reduced frictionmaterial such as Teflon®.

Handle 17 has a camera mount apparatus on a top surface, indicatedgenerally at 72. Camera mount apparatus 72 can be of any conventionaldesign to allow removable attachment of a selected camera. It will benoted that a camera C can be mounted directed to the top of the handleor, in another preferred embodiment, an elevating, C-shaped bracket 73or riser can be attached to the top of the handle and then the cameramounted on the top of the bracket, as shown in FIG. 1. It will beappreciated that the bracket can be adjustable so as to adjust thevertical height, for example by a vertical slot and screw arrangement orthe like. In any event, when reference is made to a camera mountingapparatus on the handle, it can encompass mounting structure with orwithout the elevating bracket.

The camcorder support of the present invention includes armrest 18. Inthe illustrated embodiment, armrest 18 is a horizontally orientatedplatform having a frame 74 and a padded resting surface 76. Armrest 18can be removably mounted on the vertical support 14 and is generallypositioned below the arm 16 so that the cameraman's arm is positionedbelow arm 16 in use.

Armrest 18 can be attached to the vertical support in any acceptablefashion. In one embodiment, there are three triangular brackets 78, 80and 82 attached to and extending down from the bottom side of frame 74.These three brackets include open feet 84, 86 and 88 that have aC-shaped cross section so that that the feet engage and rest on therounded surface of legs 30, 32 and 34, respectively. As a result of thetriangular arrangement of the legs and the positioning of the armrestbrackets and feet, downward pressure of the cameraman's arm issufficient to secure the armrest in place. Other or alternativeattachment or fastening means is within the scope of the invention.

Armrest 18 can be attached to the vertical support so that it can beadjustable up and down to accommodate the user. Armrest 18 is readilyremovable. The armrest can simply be lifted off to remove. Furthermore,after camera C is removed, sleeve 46A can be lifted of pivot 45. Arm 16can be folded by loosening elbow joint 50. Let 34 can be removed andvertical support 14 can be folded onto seat 12, as previously described.

In use, the cameraman properly assembles camcorder support 10 and placesseat 12 on a supportive surface, such as a bench, chair, church pew orso forth. The user then positions himself on seating surface 24, placinghis arm on armrest 18. He can adjust the length of segment 48 of arm 16and raise or lower the camera C by adjustment at elbow joint 50, asdescribed above. The user then can activate the camera C and grasphandle 17. Pivot post 45 and sleeve 46A allow the cameraman to move orsweep camera C side to side in as wide of arc as desired. Furthermore,the ball and socket joint joining handle 17 to the end of arm 16 allowsthe cameraman to move the camera in unlimited directions to film theaction. By resting his arm on armrest 18, the cameraman can record whileavoiding shaking or fatigue associated with free hand filming.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may bemade in the described embodiments without departing from the scope ofthe invention. Therefore, the foregoing description is illustrative ofthe best mode of working the invention presently known to the inventor,but should not be construed in a limiting sense.

1. A support for a camera, comprising: a seat for removable placement ona support surface, said seat having a front side, a rear side, a firstlateral side and a second lateral side, a bottom surface for placementon the support surface and a top seating surface; a vertical tripodsupport on one of said first or second lateral sides of the seat; anarmrest on the vertical tripod support; and an elongated arm, having aproximal end and a distal end, said arm being attached to the verticaltripod support at its proximal end and including a handle attached by aball and socket joint at the distal end of the arm, said handleincluding apparatus for the attachment of the camera.
 2. The support fora camera of claim 1 wherein the arm includes an adjustable elbow jointat the approximate midpoint to allow raising or lowering of the distalend of the arm.
 3. The support for a camera of claim 1 wherein theapparatus for attachment of the camera further comprises a bracket onthe handle from elevating the camera above the handle.
 4. The supportfor a camera of claim 1 wherein the armrest is positioned on thevertical tripod support below the proximal end of the arm.
 5. Thesupport for a camera of claim 1 wherein the handle has a pistol gripconfiguration.
 6. The support for a camera of claim 1 wherein the seatfurther comprises a platform extending from said first lateral side ofthe seat or second lateral side of the seat for attachment of thevertical tripod support.
 7. The support for a camera of claim 1 whereinthe vertical tripod support is foldable for transport and storage. 8.The support for a camera of claim 1 wherein the seat has a plurality oflegs extending down from a bottom side to elevate the seat above thesupport surface.
 9. The support for a camera of claim 1 wherein the armhas a telescoping section whereby the length of the arm can be adjusted.10. The support for a camera of claim 1 wherein the armrest is removablyattached to the vertical tripod support.
 11. An apparatus for supportinga camera for use by a cameraman in a seated position, comprising: a seatfor placement on a support surface, the seat including an upper seatingarea for the cameraman and a lower surface for placement on the supportsurface, a front side, a rear side, a first lateral side and a secondlateral side; a vertical support having a tripod frame attached to oneof said first or second lateral sides of the seat; an adjustable boompivotally mounted on the vertical support; a handle attached to a distalend of the boom by a joint that permits rotational movement of thehandle; a mount on the handle for the removable attachment of thecamera; and an armrest on the vertical support for support of thecameraman's arm when the cameraman is positioned on the seat, saidarmrest positioned so as to allow the cameraman to grasp the handle andmove the camera in desired directions.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11wherein the seating area is padded.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11wherein the seat further comprises a laterally extending platform underthe vertical support.
 14. The seat and camera support combination ofclaim 13 further comprising a riser bracket between the camera mount andthe camera.
 15. The seat and camera support combination of claim 14wherein the riser bracket is adjustable so as to allow adjustment of aheight of the riser bracket.
 16. A seat and camera support combination,comprising: a seat having a bottom surface for placement on a supportsurface and a top seating surface; a support frame platform on one sideof said seat; a vertical support frame having a tripod base and a pivotpost at upper end on said platform; an armrest attached to said tripodbase; an adjustable arm comprising a first segment pivotally attached tosaid pivot post and a telescoping second segment, said first and secondsegments being connected by an elbow joint that allows movement of thesecond segment in a vertical plane relative to the first segment; ahandle on a distal end of said second segment, said handle connected tosaid second segment by a ball and socket joint; and a camera mount onsaid handle for the removable attachment of a camera.
 17. The seat andcamera support combination of claim 16 wherein the handle has a pistolgrip configuration.
 18. The seat and camera support combination of claim16 wherein said armrest is removably attached to said tripod base. 19.The seat and camera support combination of claim 16 wherein said seatfurther comprises legs for engaging the support surface.
 20. The seatand camera support combination of claim 16 wherein said tripod base iscollapsible to facilitate transport and storage of the seat and camerasupport combination.
 21. The seat and camera support combination ofclaim 16 wherein said armrest can be adjusted to move up and down on thetripod base.